Ariana looked through the window at the instrument on display. It was amazing. The body resembled a normal bass guitar, but the headstock looked like something you would find on a violin or other orchestral stringed instrument. You could always tell the instruments that were made with special attention and care, by people that played and truly enjoyed the sound. There was an ineffable quality to them, something that made the cost seem to be a vulgar consideration.
In this case cost was a consideration. Ariana had worked for 5 years to be able to purchase it. Every day as she walked home from work, since the first day she saw it, she had stopped to look at it. Most stores would not have maintained a single display for that long, but this particular shop was also where the instruments were made. The owner had seen her watching one day and come out to talk with her. Far from sneering at her inability to play, he had seemed to understand her need to obtain one of the instruments.
He had taken her through his shop, showing her each stage of the design and production of the instruments. She had listened for hours as he would test new models, his fingers flowing over the neck of the bass with a fluid precision that never failed to entrance her. For 5 years she had dreamed of this day. While she knew it would require a lifetime to play as well as he did, she also knew there was no other path she could walk.
“So today is the day.” Lucas smiled at her as she continued to stare at the window. “Are you ready?”
She looked at him and said, “Yes.”
Lucas walked inside, folded back a heavy felt cloth revealing her new bass. To Ariana, it seemed as if the instrument glowed with a life of its own. She could almost see the music straining to be released and suddenly was sad, knowing that releasing that music would take years of work.
Lucas looked at her and smiled, “Much of the beauty of music lies in the awe of those listening, considering that someone can make such beautiful sounds. That ability only comes through hard work. Just like the beauty of this instrument lies in the work that created it, the beauty of your music will lie in the work you put in to learn how to make it.”
Ariana touched the body of the bass, closed her eyes and was happy.
I loved her determination!! And I was able to relate to her excitement of finally owning her dream instrument!
Awesome!
Nicely written piece. I too liked her determination and the reverence she had for the instrument.
If her work at learning to play is even half of the effort she put into building and keeping her long-held desire to play, she will be masterful. Sometimes waiting makes it that much better. Nice piece.